The primary objective of this trial is to establish the safety and tolerability of short-term (8 weeks) administration of mycophenolate mofetil in ambulatory children with JNCL. The secondary objective is to gather preliminary evidence of the short-term (8 week) impact of mycophenolate mofetil on clinically relevant features of JNCL as measured by the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale (UBDRS), including motor features, seizures, behavior, cognitive and functional measures.

To gather preliminary evidence of the short-term (8 week) impact of mycophenolate mofetil on clinically relevant features of JNCL as measured by the UBDRS, including motor features, seizures, behavior, cognitive and functional measures.

To pilot the feasibility of conducting controlled clinical trials of this rare neurological disorder base on collaboration between a national center of excellence in the disease (URBC), and children's local care-providers (pediatricians and/or local neurologists.

The liquid dosage will be individualized, contingent upon the subject's weight. Subjects will receive 50% of the target dose (300mg/m2/dose BID) during Week 0-Week 2, then increase to the full dose (600mg/m2/dose BID) in Week 3, continuing at this dose through Week 8. Additionally, due to the risk of gastrointestinal disturbance (hemorrhage, ulcer), children will also receive prophylactic Prilosec (Omeprazole) for the duration of the study, during both the mycophenolate and placebo arms.

Other Name: Cellcept

Placebo Comparator: Placebo liquid

Drug: Liquid Placebo

The dosage will be individualized, contingent upon the subject's weight. Subjects will receive 50% of the target dose (300mg/m2/dose BID) during Week 0-Week 2, then increase to the full dose (600mg/m2/dose BID) in Week 3, continuing at this dose through Week 8. Additionally, due to the risk of gastrointestinal disturbance (hemorrhage, ulcer), children will also receive prophylactic Prilosec (omeprazole) for the duration of the study, during both the mycophenolate and placebo arms.

Detailed Description:

Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL) is a fatal disorder. Currently treatment is symptomatic. Thus, there is a real need to intervene and slow the progression of this disease. Preliminary data on genetic knock-down of the ability to mount an immune response in cln3-knockout mice is supportive of a strategy for treating JNCL with an immuno-suppressive agent. Many drugs with the ability to suppress the immune system are steroidal and deemed unsuitable for long-term administration to children. Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) is used as an immunosuppressive agent in allogenic transplants in pediatric patients and is therefore approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pediatric use.

The study design is a double-blind, randomized, 22-week cross-over study of mycophenolate mofetil vs. placebo. After a 4-week washout period, subjects will undergo blinded crossover from active study drug to placebo or from placebo to active study drug.

Subjects and caregivers will be evaluated in person in the University of Rochester Batten Center (URBC) at screening/baseline, and at weeks 8, 12, and 20. In addition, subjects will be evaluated by their local clinician who is a formalized member of the research team. Such contacts will occur at Weeks 2, 4, 14, 16, and any unscheduled or early termination visits. There will also be regular telephone contact between the URBC and the local clinician.

We have selected the dosage currently FDA approved for use in children being treated for prophylaxis of renal transplant rejection.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

6 Years to 25 Years (Child, Adult)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

JNCL as determined by a characteristic clinical presentation and confirmatory genetic evidence.

Able to walk 10 feet without assistance beyond that required due to vision impairment.

Subjects with local treating clinician (pediatrician or neurologist) willing to conduct the trial according to the protocol, good clinical practice, and applicable regulations.

Subjects with a parent/legal guardian willing to accompany them to all study visits, oversee study drug compliance, and monitor and report to local treating clinician/investigator and the URBC investigative personnel any signs of adversity.

Exclusion Criteria:

Inability to tolerate oral administration of medications

Concomitant medical condition, which, in the opinion of the local treating clinician, the parent(s)/guardian, or the URBC study investigator would place the child at greater than acceptable risk from: 1) travel by plane or car to the URBC on four occasions over the course of 22 weeks, 2) exposure to mycophenolate mofetil at protocol defined dosages for periods up to 8 weeks.

Anticipated inability of the child (on the part of the investigator, parent/guardian, or URBC study personnel) to comply with the rigors of the protocol..

Use of disallowed concomitant medications.

Administration of immunosuppressive medications

History of any prior exposure to mycophenolate mofetil

History of hypersensitivity to mycophenolate mofetil, or any other component of the product

Pregnancy or vulnerability to engage in sexual intercourse based on report of the parent/guardian, judgment of the local treating clinician/investigator or judgment of the URBC study personnel.

Positive Tuberculosis test

Immunizations not up to date for age according to Centers for Disease Control guidelines

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01399047